fatdaddy67’s BodyBlog

There is nothing worse then stepping on the scale and finding that you’ve gained weight, despite the fact that you are working out. Despite the fact that you are eating 100% healthy. Despite the fact that your caloric intake is much lower than your pre-diet intake.

Yes, the mind tries to tell me that the weight is a temporary water. And the mind tries to tell me that the weight gain is muscle, or from muscle memory. But, the bottom line is that any weight gain on a diet is a hard pill to swallow.

Every fiber in my body wants to pig out and say, forget this! But I won’t. I’ll eat my broccoli and chicken breasts with a whimper, and not a smile. I’ll push forward.

I did have sore hamstrings today - Romanian deadlifts did the trick. Those wacky Romanians sure know how to work the hams.

Chest, Workout C

Bench Press - 145×12 reps, 155×8, 155×7, 155×6

DB Incline Bench Press - 45×12 reps, 65×7, 65×5

Front Overhead BB Press - 95×6 reps, 95×4, 75×7

DB Kickbacks - 35×10 reps, 35×7, 35×6

Today’s calories = 2,700

I’m off to eat and re-read Titan.

Not a great day. Yes, I stuck to my calories and diet, but I feel horrible. Last night I munched on a bunch of pickles watching the movie Premonition, and today I feel like I have a food hangover. I have been pounding water like mad, but have felt dehydrated and energy-less all day.

Yesterday’s Romanian deadlifts did a number on my hamstrings. I’m off to eat some tomatoes and chicken breasts.

Today’s calories = 2,700

07/22/2007: 246.0 pounds

Bodyfat % = 32.94

Fat =  81.03 (-1.35)

Muscle =  164.97 (+3.55)

My bodyfat percentage indicates that I lost fat and gained lean mass. I don’t know if this is from muscle memory, or if my body is holding water.

I spent the morning sanding a drywall ceiling, and by noon I thought I wouldn’t have the energy to workout. After a Clif’s protein bar, a banana, and a diet Mountain Dew, I was feeling slightly better. But the great thing about lifting weights, and exercising for that matter -is that by the time you get a couple sets in, you usually feel much better.

I hit my legs today, and while they don’t feel as "hammered" as my last squat day, I still feel like it was a quality, heavy workout.

Legs, Workout B

Squats - Maximal Effort - 185×3 reps, 215×3, 245×3, 257×3, 295×1, 305xFAIL

Romanian Deadlifts - 135×12 reps, 135×12, 135×10

Single Leg Calf Raises - 35×12 reps, 35×12

Leg Lifts - 2 sets of 12 reps

Side Bends - 35×12 reps, 35×12

I am really making an effort to do my ab work. During my last stint at weightlifting 10 years ago, I always pushed ab work into the "maybe next time" file. Also, I don’t do much calf work. My calves are monsters and always have been. They grow like weeds, so I water them less.

Today’s calories = 2,700

I felt so great yesterday that I had a hard time getting to sleep. But, I still had a good day. My back muscles are sore, moreso than from any previous back workout I can remember - and I’ve had some heavy ones. I never though deadlifting would impact the back in such a dramatic way, but it did.

I now have so many pairs of pants that are useless. I wore my size 38 work pants this week, and wow, what an encouragement that was.

I am very curious to see where I weigh in tomorrow. I upped my caloric intake about 2,500 calories this week in an attempt to stop the muscle loss while still losing fat. I an OK with losing weight at a slower pace if it means I will have more strength and muscle in the long term. We shall see.

Today’s calories = 2,600

I felt much better today. I can usually tell how my day is going to be - energy wise - when I crawl out of bed. Today my body felt better than normal. This resulted in a very good back workout.

Back, Workout B

Deadlift - Maximal Effort - 245×3 reps, 275×3, 305×3, 335×3, 365×2, 385xFAIL, 375×1

T-Bar Rows - 90×10 reps, 90×8, 90×7

DB Curls - 35×12 reps, 35×11, 35×10

Stiff Leg Deadlifts - 225×8 reps, 225×7, 225×6

If you’ve never performed heavy deadlifts before, they hit your upper back like no other exercise. I can feel my upper back in a state of fatigue. In the past, I have hammered out very heavy sets of dumbbell rows and T-bars, but they do not compare to heavy deads.

I have been craving nachos the last 3 days. I crushed my cravings with a heavy dose of jalapeno in my food.

Today’s calories = 2,700

Also, please check out my author page: I am giving away free books and holding a contest.

Short and sweet tonight. I am tired, and have been kept up lately by frequent nightly visits to the potty. Weight loss can sometimes be trying.

Another good day.

Today’s calories = 2,600

Day 50! Fifty days without a cheat day. Fifty days with little to no junk food. I have amazed myself. Never have I gone so long eating so well.

Here is my workout today:
Chest, Workout B

Bench Press - Maximal Effort - 135×3 reps, 145×3, 165×3, 185×3, 205xFAIL, 195×1

Incline BB Bench Press - 135×10 reps, 135×7, 135×5

Overhead DB Press - 50×5 reps, 45×6, 45×5

Close Grip bench Press - 135×6 reps, 115×8, 115×5

Today’s calories = 2,700

Quinoa. I tried quinoa today for lunch, added into my salsa and chicken, and I loved it. It is lighter than rice, and has a great texture. Quinoa also has no strong taste of aftertaste. So, if you are looking for a healthy carb, I strongly recommend trying it.  I will also be substituting quinoa for my nightly noodles, bringing my calories down a hair from my revised diet plan.

My legs were only slightly sore this morning, but grew tighter as the hours went by. It is barely past 6 and I am beat. Tomorrow is chest day.

Today’s calories = 2,700

I had an unexpected walk today, which wasn’t a bad thing. I went to a local store called The Village Market to pick up some quinoa (pronounced keen-wa), and my car died. While I have AAA, I still had to walk to tell my wife and daughters about the problem. So, I had a nice post-leg day walk.

Speaking of leg day, SQUATS! Here is my workout from this morning:
Legs, Workout A

Squat - Speed (Dynamic Effect) - 5 sets of 185×3, 275×1

Lunges - 95×7 reps, 95×6

Hamstring Curls - 45×12 reps, 45×10

Leg Lifts - 12 reps, 10 and 7

I hate ab work, but am dedicated to fitting it in this time around. My legs are slightly sore right now, but hopefully I will be able to walk tomorrow.

Today’s calories = 2,900